EghtesadOnline: Iran traded 27,000 tons of non-oil commodities worth $64.13 million with Syria during the first four months of the current fiscal year (March 21-July 22), registering a 180.63% increase in tonnage and 38.13% decrease in value compared with last year’s corresponding period.

Latest data released by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration also show that the trade volume largely pertained to Iran’s exports to Syria.

Exports stood at 26,734 tons worth $63.42 million, up 214.97% in tonnage and down 36.21% in value year-on-year.

Syria was Iran’s 23rd biggest export destination during the period, according to Financial Tribune.

Iran mainly exported pipes and profiles, milk powder and pharmaceuticals to Syria during the four-month period.

Meanwhile, Syria exported 266 tons of goods worth $704,554 to Iran, down 76.52% and 83.28% in tonnage and value YOY. Syria was the 87th exporter of goods to Iran over the four months.

Imports mainly included olive oil, plants and corundum.

An Iranian economic delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development Amir Amini visited the Syrian capital Damascus last month.

The two sides touched upon the issues of reconstruction of Syria’s infrastructures battered by years of war on terrorists as well as cooperation in the fields of customs, banking, industry, information technology, creation of SMEs and energy.

Upon the delegation’s arrival, Assistant Economy Minister for Economic Development and International Relations Rania al-Ahmad said investors and industrialists from Iran intend to play an important role in the reconstruction of Syria, expressing hope that negotiations would lead to Iran’s effective cooperation, Mehr News Agency reported.

The three-day visit came after Syrian Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade Mohammad Samer al-Khalil discussed the prospects of bilateral economic cooperation with top Iranian officials in Tehran back in June.

“Iran will be a main partner in the reconstruction process,” Al-Khalil said in the Iranian capital.

“The current stage is decisive for Syria and Iran, and we are on the threshold of the phase of rebuilding Syria and take advantage of the expertise of Iranian companies in this domain.”

Earlier in May, Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi paid a visit to Damascus and signed a memorandum of understanding for mutual economic cooperation.